Nàila: Music Was The Path I Was Meant To Follow [Singer & Musical Performer, UK]

Nàila is an Italian singer and musical performer born and raised in Frattamaggiore, near Naples, Italy, and currently based in Southampton, UK.

Q. People know you as a talented singer with a beautiful voice, but beyond the music, we'd love to know Nàila as a person. How would you describe yourself?

First of all, dear Himanshi, I'd like to thank you for reaching out and inviting me to take part in this interview. It truly means a lot to me because it suggests that you saw something unique and interesting in my journey through my social media.

As a person, beyond the stage and my artistic career, I would say that my family is at the centre of my life. This includes both the family I left in Naples, where I return as often as I can, and the family I have built. I have two wonderful young children, who attend school here in Southampton, England. I do my best to pass on not only the Italian language but also the Neapolitan language, because I believe our roots are an important part of who we are.

Alongside being a singer, I am also a primary school teacher specialising in special educational needs. Teaching and music may seem like two different worlds, but for me they are connected by the same desire: to communicate, to inspire, and to make a positive difference in people's lives.

As for my personality, I usually prefer to let other people describe me, hoping that I leave them with a positive impression. But if I had to describe myself, I would say that I am someone who tries to preserve her own humanity, slowing down enough to truly appreciate people and life in a world that often moves too fast, also becoming increasingly artificial.

Like everyone else, I have my flaws: one of them is that I can be overly meticulous and something of a perfectionist, especially when it comes to my work. At the same time, I am deeply empathetic, and I always try to be loyal and respectful in my relationships with others, because friendship is something that I value immensely.

Q. Every artist's journey begins somewhere. We'd love to know - when did you first realize that music was more than just an interest and something you truly wanted to pursue? How did this journey begin?

Music has always been part of my life, but my first love was actually dance. As a child, I loved being on stage and trained as a dancer. At the same time, singing came naturally to me. I sang everywhere and everything: from church hymns to the theme songs of my favourite cartoons. It was simply a part of who I was.

As an adult, while working as a dancer in several stage productions, I had the opportunity to meet influential figures from Naples' music and theatre scene. One of them was Leonardo Ippolito, a well-known theatre producer and an outstanding expert of the vast repertoire of Neapolitan music. Together with other mentors, he encouraged me to pursue a career as a vocalist and performer.

When I started winning singing competitions and receiving recognition for my performances, I understood that music was no longer just a passion: it really was the path I was meant to follow. From that moment on, I devoted myself to musical theatre, where I could bring together singing, dancing, and acting.

Q. Through your music and social media, you come across as calm, positive, and full of warmth. But like all of us, do you experience moments of anxiety, self-doubt, or overthinking? If so, how do you navigate those phases?

Absolutely. And first of all, thank you for noticing those qualities in me through my posts and reels... it's so beautiful to hear!

What drives me to sing in so many different languages is simply a deep passion and a desire to communicate beauty through music. Every language carries its own emotions, history, and soul, and I love building bridges between cultures through songs.

That said, I'm 45, and there are moments when I wonder whether there's still time and space for me as an artist. Sometimes I feel discouraged and question whether anything I create is truly worthy of being heard. Self-doubt can be surprisingly loud, even for those who appear confident on the outside.

Whenever those moments come, my children become my greatest source of strength. They tell me how much they love hearing me, and seeing them sing along with me (even learning lyrics in different languages!) fills me with hope and joy.

In those moments, I realise that success isn't measured only by numbers or recognition. Even if I never reach a wider audience, my voice will always live on in the hearts and memories of my children, and of people who love me and support me. To me, that is already a beautiful kind of immortality. It reminds me why I started singing in the first place: not to become famous, but to leave behind something meaningful, something that can continue to inspire love, curiosity, and connection long after the music fades.

Q. Music has the beautiful ability to connect people beyond language and borders. Through your project NAPOLINDIA, you've created a unique bridge between Neapolitan and Indian music. We'd love to know what inspired this beautiful cultural fusion, and what drew you so deeply towards Indian music and culture.

I grew up singing the most famous Italian and Neapolitan songs. In particular, Neapolitan music has always fascinated me because, beneath its unmistakable identity, I could hear echoes of many other musical traditions. Naples has been shaped by centuries of cultural exchange and different civilizations, and I have always been drawn to the sounds of the Middle East and Northern Africa.

This curiosity led me to start singing in Arabic and Hebrew many years ago. One of the first Arabic songs I learned in its entirety was "Tamally Ma'ak" by the Egyptian singer Amr Diab.

When I later moved to Southampton (England), I became part of the vibrant Indian community through Unity 101 Community Radio. It was there that I discovered the same melody had been adapted for the Bollywood film "Murder" as "Kaho Na Kaho". Since I already knew the melody so well, I decided to create something original: a trilingual version combining the original Arabic lyrics with Hindi lyrics, while translating some verses into my native Neapolitan language.

The response from the Indian community in Southampton was incredibly warm and encouraging. Their enthusiasm inspired me to continue exploring this artistic direction, and that's how my project NAPOLINDIA was born. Through this project, I reinterpret Indian songs by weaving Neapolitan verses into them, creating a genuine musical dialogue between two cultures. 

This vision has been made possible thanks to the invaluable collaboration of Maestro Gianluigi Capasso from Frattamaggiore (our hometown near Naples), who arranged the music and introduced traditional Neapolitan instruments such as the mandolin and the tammorra (typical drum), giving these songs a distinctive Mediterranean soul.

If you ask me what truly inspired this journey, my answer is simple: friendship.

Over the years, I have met extraordinary people from the Indian community in Southampton who have become dear friends. They welcomed me into their culture, introducing me to Indian music and artistic traditions. 

I have shared unforgettable evenings with them at Bollywood parties, dancing until late, and I have also had the honour of taking part as a model in several Indian fashion shows directed by “Haimanti Kumar” during the Diwali Mela Festival, organised by “Rajan Jolly” for ESAC.

                                             

Q. You've performed on many stages and sung countless songs throughout your journey. Looking back, is there one performance or experience that remains especially close to your heart? We'd love to know what makes it so memorable for you.

That is such a difficult question because, fortunately, there isn't just one moment that has stayed with me... there are several that I will always carry in my heart.

One of the most unforgettable experiences was winning a singing competition in Sicily. I was the only Neapolitan artist taking part, competing against Sicilian performers while singing in the Sicilian language. Receiving that recognition from an audience and jury outside my own region was both unexpected and deeply moving.

Another memory I treasure is from the end of a theatre production, when my long-time mentor and theatre producer, Leonardo Ippolito, surprised me on stage by presenting me with a commemorative plaque accompanied by a heartfelt dedication in recognition of the many years we had worked together. It was an emotional gesture that I will never forget.

I also had the honour of being invited by the renowned scenographer and theatre director Bruno Garofalo to perform "'Uocchie c'arraggiunate" (one of Eduardo De Filippo's favourite songs, Italy's greatest playwright, actor, and theatre director, with whom Garofalo worked closely) as the guest of honour on the closing night of a competition organised by Marisa Laurito at the historic Teatro Trianon Viviani in Naples. For a Neapolitan artist, performing in a theatre so closely connected with our cultural heritage was a truly special privilege.

Another memorable experience was performing in Spanish alongside the Argentine artist Diego Moreno on Pascal Vicedomini's television programme "Paradise", paying tribute to the legendary football player Diego Armando Maradona, who will always hold a special place in the hearts of the people of Naples.

When I look back, I realise how fortunate I have been to experience so many meaningful moments throughout my musical journey.

Q. Before we wrap up, we'd love to know a little more about your interests. Is there a book, film, or series that has stayed with you over the years or one that you often find yourself recommending to others?

Without a doubt, my answer is the Italian film "Life Is Beautiful" (La vita è bella), directed by and starring Roberto Benigni, and deservedly awarded multiple Academy Awards.

I love this film deeply, not only because it reminds us of one of the greatest tragedies in human history... a tragedy that should never be repeated anywhere in the world, yet it still is there today very sadly in different forms... but also because of the extraordinary delicacy, poetry, and hope with which such a painful story is told. It is one of those rare films that can make you smile and cry at the same time. I truly believe that everyone should watch it at least once in their lifetime.

There's another reason why this film is especially close to my heart. Its beautiful soundtrack includes the song "Beautiful That Way" composed by Academy Award-winning composer Nicola Piovani and written and performed by the Israeli singer Noa, whose artistry I greatly admire.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of performing that song several times. One day, after hearing my interpretation, the film's leading actress, Nicoletta Braschi (who is also Benigni's wife) personally called me to congratulate me. It was a completely unexpected moment and one of the greatest compliments I have ever received as a singer. I will always treasure that memory.

I wish to thank you once again, Eat My News and dear Himanshi, sending you and your readers my warmest regards.

Bio

Nàila is an Italian singer and musical performer born and raised in Frattamaggiore, near Naples, and currently based in Southampton, UK.

With a strong artistic identity that blends Neapolitan roots with global influences, she performs in multiple languages, transcending borders and connecting with audiences across both the West and the East.

Holding a Doctorate in Education and a Master's degree in Special Needs, and also shaped by theatre and dance since childhood, Nàila explores themes of identity, culture, and human connection through her music with a distinctive vocal style.

Nàila has performed in theatre and television productions and has taken part in artistic projects directed by internationally recognised directors and featuring artists from different cultural backgrounds in Italy, the UK, and the United States.

Following a fortunate collaboration with Unity 101 Community Radio in Southampton, she represented Italy in the musical production "Om Shanti Om - diversity through music", performing the italian masterpiece "Caruso" by the songwriter Lucio Dalla. She has also performed alongside international artists on the World Stage at the Southampton Mela Festival, organised by Art Asia.

She is the only italian singer to have performed repeatedly at the Hindu Temple in Southampton, where she introduced her cross-cultural music project: NAPOLINDIA. The project blends the neapolitan language with indian languages through lyrics partially translated by Nàila herself, while reimagining indian songs with arrangements that incorporate traditional neapolitan instruments, performed by Maestro Gianluigi Capasso. "NAPOLINDIA" celebrates the dialogue between two ancient musical traditions, creating a unique bridge between Naples (Napoli) and India.

A winner of multiple singing competitions, Nàila continues to develop a refined artistic vision centred on cultural fusion, emotional storytelling, and international reach.

Her repertoire includes both reinterpretations of well-known songs and, more recently, original music featuring her own lyrics. Her work appeals to listeners who appreciate world music, mediterranean influences, cultural fusion, and cinematic vocal performances."


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Interviewed by Himanshi Bhatt